Crazy Love

Are You Hurt?

ALEX

After science, I moved to maths class to prepare for the pop quiz which was easier than I thought. I couldn't wait for school to be over. And kept checking the time but somehow, the clock wasn't moving at all or the day was extremely slow. Almost as if it was deliberately testing my patience, but I endured. Three more periods before school is over and I am frustrated. The feeling of forgetting something was back again and this time it was persistent, but again, I pushed it to the back of my mind again since, I couldn't remember no matter how hard I tried. I don't want to waste too much time dwelling on it.

"I see someone's getting ready to get beaten up again" Edgar smirked as he walked into the abandoned gym that we used for practice. It was located at the far back of the school. It used to be a gym room before but had been converted to a storage room after the school was annexed to the fore front and a new bigger gym room was constructed to accommodate all the tools and exercise equipment. I found the place accidentally, when a guy named Brian had dragged me there after beating me up for no reason, his friends had cheered him on, he locked me up after telling me ridiculous stories of demons and ghosts. His plan was to lock me in there till the next day and come to find a terrified human the next day. His undoing, however, was, I don't get scared easily, that is, if I ever get scared at all and if there was anything I liked better than studying, it was exploring old abandoned places, no matter what odd stories the place held. Thus, I approached my new prison curiously without an ounce of fear and when I discovered a hidden door at the back, I used all my strength to force it open, which brought me to this abandoned gym. Most of the exercising equipment is old but works fine, but some are already worn out and can't function at all. I also got out pretty easily compared to how I had thought I would spend hours before getting out, it almost felt as if someone had helped me get out that day.

"As if," I scoffed, it was true, although I got beaten up badly before Edgar came to my rescue. I could hold my own pretty fairly, I may not be a good fighter, but I could throw a few punches. I was just not good enough against those buffy guys. After the assembly the other day, I had then stalked Edgar, determined to see him and properly thank him for having my back. He took one look at me and suggested that I needed a self-defense class. He gave me a day to think it over, but I accepted right there and then, if I could learn a few more tricks, I would be able to beat my bullies, and no one would dare to bully me ever again.

I then took him straight to this gym, and we started immediately. It didn't take long before I learned some new skills. This impressed Edgar, who kept asking why I never tried harder to beat those guys. After a few days of practice, I started handing him his ass too, although sometimes I could swear he was letting me win.

**********

"Come on then" Edgar sneered "Let's see what you've got." He said, getting into position and ready for my attack. We dueled for close to an hour before I felt myself getting tired and the familiar feeling that I always dread settling at the base of my stomach. Oh no, I looked up in fright,

"Even a girl can do better than that" I heard Edgar jeering at my weak punch, *if only you knew* I sighed inwardly. I'm in no condition to spar with anyone anymore. I don't even want to do anything for that matter. I just want to go home, and lay on my bed and be alone. This is what I have been trying to remember, every twenty-one day of each month, I like to spend these days quietly away from everything and everyone, just sleeping in after taking sick leaves from school. I had been so caught up with everything that I forgot such an important thing, "What's wrong Alex?" Edgar asked worriedly when he saw my face probably drained of all color. "Are you feeling okay?" he was beside me in seconds, looking at my face worriedly. He didn't understand why I would suddenly go pale all of a sudden. I only shook my head. I know he was worried and I know I'm acting weirder than my normal weird but I couldn't bring myself to tell him what was going on, especially as I have been begging him for practice after school today.

'Oh I was just warming up" I lied even though I knew I can't break through this particular technique and partly because it was that time of the month "can we take a short break?" I asked innocently, "I'm just a little tired, that's all."

"How are you suddenly feeling tired when we only just begun?" He asked feeling irritated at my weakness, that was true, but I can't find the energy to continue practice, not like this. I'm in a vulnerable state and get tired quickly but I can't tell him that. "You just said you are warming up" he reminded and I want to bite my tongue, I need to think of something fast if I ever want to get out of training today, my brows furrows mischievously as I flashed my most seductive and sure fire smile that never failed me.

"Can we take a rain check then? I became so tired all of a sudden." I said with a little pout, and watched him rubbed his temple in frustration "I am sorry we had to cut it short so soon." I said, smiling weakly at him.

"Are you sure you are not hurt?" He asked again.

"Very sure" I said flexing my muscle for him to see which made him chuckled a bit. "Sorry I made you come all the way here for nothing. I promise to make it up to you soon"

"If you are truly sorry, you won't be running off so soon, I only just got here and you are leaving." he said with a cute pout of his own "Are you sure I didn't hurt you? I haven't even thrown a punch yet."

" No, you didn't, don't be a sour little baby now, I have to go. Will call you when I get home. You can always practice on your own," I told him before hurriedly walking out of the building without backward glance. I need to get home fast before he or anyone start to notice and question where the smell of blood was coming from.